Venue: Concorde Room, Council Offices, Farnborough
Contact: Chris Todd, Democratic Services on 01252 398825 or e-mail: chris.todd@rushmoor.gov.uk
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To confirm the Minutes of the
Meeting held on 23rd August, 2016 (copy attached). Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 23rd August, 2016 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman. |
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FINANCIAL STRATEGY AND MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL FORECAST PDF 855 KB To consider the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1619 (copy attached), which sets out the principal elements of the Financial Strategy and provides an update on the Medium Term Financial Forecast. Presented By: Leader of the Council Minutes: The Cabinet considered the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1619,
which set out a review of the Medium Term Financial Strategy and sought
endorsement of an updated Strategy for the period 2016/17 to 2019/20. It was
appropriate to carry out the review at this time as the Council was about to
move into its next budget setting cycle. The Cabinet was advised that the review of the Strategy had been carried
out in light of the expected continuation of the challenging financial
circumstances that the Council had experienced for a number of years. Members
were informed that the existing Strategy had served the Council well in
supporting financial planning over the medium term. It had been integral to the
Corporate Plan and had supported the 8-Point Plan for the achievement of
sustainability. The Report set out the keys risks
and considerations for future budget setting under the following headings: ·
Central
Government funding ·
Business
Rates Retention Scheme ·
New
Homes Bonus ·
The
multi-year settlement offer ·
2917/18
Local Government Finance Settlement – technical consultation paper ·
Council
Tax ·
Transformational
change ·
Interest
rates ·
Level
of reserves ·
Devolution ·
Other
key risks ·
Sustainability The Cabinet was informed that, to ensure that a revised Strategy would be
relevant to current decision making, it was necessary to consider this in the
context of the Medium Term Financial Forecast. The Revenue Forecast indicated
the anticipated funding gap for each of the years in the medium term, based on
a set of assumptions about cost pressures and funding levels, and set these
against cost reductions and income generation proposed in the 8-Point Plan. The
Forecast showed a projected budget gap of £3.4 million by 2019/20 The Council
was in the process of securing borrowing to support the Capital Programme but
it was confirmed that there were very competitive inter- authority interest
rates of around 0.25% widely available. It was recommended that the Government’s offer of a guaranteed four year
settlement would provide the Council with some certainty for its future
financial planning and should, therefore, be accepted. During discussion, Members expressed their satisfaction with the Council’s
financial position and were content that the Council’s 8-Point Plan had been successful
in helping to deliver this. The Cabinet also acknowledged the good work carried
out by the Budget Strategy Working Group and Rushmoor officers in getting to
this position. |
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APPLICATIONS FOR DISCRETIONARY RATE RELIEF PDF 762 KB To consider the Head of Financial
Services’ Report No. FIN1617 (copy attached), which gives details of
applications for discretionary rate relief. Presented By: Concessions and Community Support Minutes: The Cabinet considered the Head
of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1617 which set out details of three applications
for rate relief from the Batten Disease Family Association (Office No. 1, The
Old Library, Boundary Road, Farnborough), Parkside (Aldershot and District
Learning Disability) Fab Café (Farnborough Library, Pinehurst, Farnborough) and
Fabrica NCV Limited (No. 16 Camp Road, Farnborough). The Cabinet RESOLVED
that (i)
the application for discretionary rate relief
from the Batten Disease Family
Association be refused on the grounds that the national charity could
not currently demonstrate a sufficient local benefit; (ii)
20%
top-up discretionary relief be awarded to Parkside (Aldershot and District
Learning Disability) Fab Café for year 2016/17; and (iii)
authority to
determine the application by Fabrica NCV Limited be
delegated to the Cabinet Member for Concessions and Community Support, to allow
for a visit to be made to the premises. |
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To consider
the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1631 (copy attached), which provides
a summary of the content and issues that have been identified
with Waverley Borough Council’s Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan Part 1:
Strategy and Sites consultation, with regard to its potential impact on
Rushmoor. Presented By: Environment and Service Delivery Minutes: The Cabinet considered the Head of Planning's Report No. PLN1631, which
sought agreement to submit comments on Waverley Borough Council’s
Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan Part 1: Strategy and Sites document, which was
open to consultation until 3rd October, 2016. The Report set out the context of this consultation in terms of National
Planning Policy and explained how Hart, Rushmoor and Surrey Heath Councils together
formed a Housing Market Area. It was explained that
Waverley, Guildford and Woking Councils were working together in a similar way.
It was predicted in the document that Waverley would
meet its objectively assessed housing need within its administrative area. The
document also expressed a commitment to preserving the strategic gap between
Aldershot and Farnham, although proposed changes to the gap would be included
in Part 2 of the Local Plan and Rushmoor would work
closely with Waverley in this respect at that time. The Cabinet discussed several elements of the consultation, including the
risks associated with Waverley relying on developments at Dunsfold
Aerodrome to meet a large proportion of its housing need. It was also stressed
that local infrastructure should be improved sufficiently to cope with the
increase in the local population. The Cabinet RESOLVED that the Council make representations on the Waverley Borough Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan Part 1: Strategy and Sites consultation document, based on the comments set out in the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1631. |
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EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT - CONSULTATION ON THE CONNAUGHT SCHOOL PDF 1 MB To consider
the Corporate Director’s Report No. CD1604 (copy attached), which sets out a
proposed response to Hampshire County Council’s consultation on options for the
future of the Connaught School, Aldershot. Presented By: Leisure and Youth Minutes: The Cabinet considered the
Corporate Director’s Report No. CD1604, which sought agreement to submit
comments on Hampshire County Council’s consultation on the future of the
Connaught School, Aldershot, which was open until 30th September, 2016. A comprehensive briefing
paper was attached to the Report and this set out the
background to the consultation and a detailed explanation of the proposed
options. In addition to this, Members had had a meeting on 19th September, 2016 when presentations had been given by
Hampshire County Council and the head teacher at Westgate School in Winchester,
which was an example of an ‘all through’ school, having pupils aged from four
to sixteen years. Members were informed that Connaught
School’s governing body now supported Hampshire County Council’s preferred option
of the merger with Belle Vue Infant School and
Newport Junior School to form an ‘all through’ school across the three existing
sites. The Cabinet discussed
several elements of the consultation, including the likely timescale for the
changes if agreed. Members were content that there was now a level of agreement
as to the best way forward and expressed gratitude to Connaught’s Chair of
Governors for what had been achieved at the Connaught
School. The Cabinet RESOLVED that (i)
a response be made, on
behalf of the Council, to the consultation on the future of the Connaught
School, as set out in the Corporate Director’s Report No. CD1604 and discussed
at the Meeting, to include: -
welcoming
the opportunity to continue to work with Hampshire County Council on the future
of the Connaught School and improving educational attainment across Rushmoor; -
supporting
the preferred option of an all through school but not wanting to rule out the
possibility of moving to an academy in the future; -
being
keen to engage with Hampshire County Council on the possibility in the future
of a new building for the new school on a single site; and (ii)
the Corporate Director,
in consultation with the Deputy Leader and the Cabinet Member for Leisure and
Youth, be authorised to finalise the detailed response. NOTE: Cr. D.E. Clifford declared a prejudicial interest in this item in respect of his company supplying goods to schools in the Borough and, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, left the meeting during the discussion and voting thereon. |
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CONNAUGHT LEISURE CENTRE, ALDERSHOT - CHANGES TO WEEKDAY OPENING TIMES PDF 224 KB To consider
the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1612 (copy attached),
which sets out a proposal to change the weekday opening times at the Connaught
Leisure Centre, Aldershot. Presented By: Leisure and Youth Minutes: The Cabinet considered the
Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1612,
which sought approval to change the weekday opening times at the Connaught
Leisure Centre, Aldershot. Members were informed that
the existing weekday opening times were 8.30 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.. It was proposed that these
should change to 5.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m., with weekends remaining unchanged. It was explained that the revised hours would significantly
reduce the Centre’s operating costs and would alleviate safeguarding concerns
raised by the school around adult customers mixing with school pupils. A full
explanation of each of the reasons was given in the
Report. It was reported that arrangements had been
made to provide existing Connaught customers with access to daytime fitness
facilities at the nearby Aldershot Indoor Pools. The Cabinet expressed
support for this proposal and the need to make the facility sustainable by
achieving an operating surplus. The Cabinet RESOLVED that the changes to the opening times at Connaught
Leisure Centre, as set out in the Head of Community and Environmental Services’
Report No. COMM1612, be approved. |
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To consider the Head of Community and
Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1617 (copy attached), which sets out details of a review of agency
agreements by Hampshire County Council. Presented By: Environment and Service Delivery Minutes: The Cabinet
considered the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1617, which provided an update on changes to the County Agency
Agreements and sought approval for the Council to continue with an agency
arrangement and deliver a range of services, with some adjustments. The Cabinet was informed that, due to funding pressures, the County
Council had had to reduce service levels and funding of agency arrangements
where Rushmoor provided services on behalf of the County Council. The Report
set out where these reductions would take place within the areas of traffic
management, highways development control and environmental works. The Cabinet discussed
the proposals and acknowledged that the County Council had little choice but to
implement these changes. Members were keen, however, to supplement these
important local services wherever possible, such as in providing additional
weed control operations. It was confirmed that the
Council would continue to discuss with the County Council how this might be
achieved. The Cabinet RESOLVED that (i)
given
the high priority for traffic management, environmental works and highways
development control and in order to maintain influence and deliver
improvements, the continuation of the delivery of an agency agreement for
Hampshire County Council, as set out in the the Head
of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1617, be approved; and (ii)
the financial implications, as set out in the
Report, be approved. |
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RUSHMOOR MARKETS AND CAR BOOT SALES - UPDATE PDF 227 KB To consider the Head of Community and
Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1619 (copy attached), which sets out an update relating to the Council’s
operation of markets and car boot sales in Aldershot and Farnborough. Presented By: Environment and Service Delivery Minutes: The Cabinet considered the Head of Community and Environmental Services’
Report No. COMM1619, which sought approval to delegate
responsibility for some operational issues and the setting of rent and to apply
for planning approval to change the days of operation. The Cabinet was reminded that the operation of
Rushmoor’s markets and car boot sales had been brought in house in early 2015.
Since that time, in Farnborough the Tuesday market had
thrived in its new location in Queensmead but the Sunday
market had done less well. The Sunday car boot sale had remained busy. In
Aldershot, the Thursday market had remained stable but both the Saturday market
and Sunday car boot had struggled in recent times. The Report set out a number
of proposals to increase footfall and income generation: ·
Aldershot market rents to be reduced by £10 per pitch ·
Farnborough rents to be increased by £2.50 per pitch ·
Farnborough Sunday market to be moved to a Friday,
subject to planning consent ·
Aldershot Saturday market to be moved to a Monday,
subject to planning consent ·
Aldershot Sunday car boot to be moved to a Saturday The Cabinet was supportive of these proposals and was keen for any other
opportunities to be fully explored, such as Italian
and Farmers’ markets and activities involving Rushmoor’s twin towns. It was agreed that the delegation of the responsibility for the
setting of rents and other operational issues would make the service more
responsive and likely to deliver improvements. The Cabinet RESOLVED that (i)
the delegation of
responsibility for operational issues and the setting of rents, as set out in
the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1619, be
approved; and (ii)
the Head of Community and
Environmental Services be authorised to implement the other proposals set out
in the Report, including the applications for planning approval for a Friday
market in Farnborough and a Monday market in Aldershot. |
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CAR PARKING SERVICE - REPLACEMENT OF PAY AND DISPLAY MACHINES AND RELATED MATTERS PDF 236 KB To consider the Head of Community and
Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1618 (copy attached), which sets out proposals in relation to the
replacement of the Council’s car parking pay and display machines and related
matters. Presented By: Environment and Service Delivery Minutes: The Cabinet considered the Head of Community and Environmental Services’
Report No. COMM1618, which sought approval for a proposed approach to the
replacement of the Council’s pay and display machines and a number of related
matters. The Cabinet was informed that the Council’s existing machines were now
at the end of their life. The proposed new machines would be equipped to take
the new £1 coins as well as a number of other methods of payment, such as debit
card and pay by phone. It was explained that the use of Rushmoor’s Parking
Smartcards had tailed off significantly in recent years and it was, therefore,
proposed that these should be phased out. Furthermore, in the event of the
phasing out of Parking Smartcards, it was recommended that the existing
Smartcard 65 Plus concession, where residents over the age of 65 currently
received £50 credit for a payment of £25, should not be carried forward to any
alternative method of payment, such as permits or pay by phone. It was
explained that there was no evidence to suggest that those aged 65 and over
were any more economically disadvantaged than other customers. The Cabinet RESOLVED that (i)
the
proposed approach for replacing the pay and display machines, as set out in the
Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1618, be approved;
(ii)
the
phasing out of Parking Smartcards, as set out in the Report, be approved; and (iii)
the
65 Plus concession be withdrawn. |
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REDAN ROAD, ALDERSHOT - COMPULSORY PURCHASE PDF 285 KB To consider
the Solicitor to the Council’s Report No. LEG1611 (copy attached), which sets
out a proposal for the Council to exercise its compulsory purchase powers to
enable the redevelopment of a property for housing. Presented By: Health and Housing / Corporate Services Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet considered
the Solicitor to the Council’s Report No. LEG1611, which
sought approval to move towards the compulsory acquisition of the former
Territorial Army Centre at Redan Road, Aldershot.
The Chairman welcomed the owner of
the site, Mr. M.K. Choudhary, to the meeting and it was
explained that Mr. Choudhary would be allowed to address the Cabinet. The Solicitor to the
Council explained that the site had been acquired by
Mr. Choudhary in August 2000 and had been subject to a number of planning
applications. Most recently, planning had been granted
in March 2015 for 22 dwellings, subject to the payment of Section 106
contributions totalling £196,451. Building had commenced in February 2016 when
the foundations for block 1 – 7 had been laid. This
had represented the commencement of the planning permission and was the point
at which the Section 106 obligations had become payable. This sum had been invoiced but not paid. A request had been received
from the owner’s agent for payment of this amount to be made in instalments but
this had been refused by the Development Management Committee
in June 2016. Mr. Choudhary addressed
the meeting and offered his explanation for the delay in developing the site.
He explained that there was, currently, a shortage of labour in the building
sector and that this was presenting problems to developers. He was confident
that he could complete the development by the end of 2018 and was ready to
start imminently. He asked the Cabinet to allow him to keep the site and to
consider allowing him to pay the outstanding Section 106 contributions in
instalments. The Solicitor to the
Council explained that the site had been identified in
the Rushmoor Borough Council 2015 Strategic Housing Land Availability
Assessment as a site that would deliver 22 dwellings before 2019. In the
Solicitor’s opinion, the only way this could be guaranteed
was to seek a development partner that would be prepared to step in and deliver
the development, if needed. It was emphasised, however, that, in the first
instance, Mr. Choudhary would be given the opportunity
to pay the Section 106 monies and build out the development by the end of 2018,
as planned. In discussing the proposal, it was the
Cabinet’s view that it was a priority to ensure that development of this key
strategic site was completed by the end of 2018 to
provide much needed housing. The Cabinet RESOLVED that, subject to the Council having entered into
an agreement with a development partner to indemnify the Council for the
acquisition cost of the site, the Solicitor to the Council be
authorised to: -
make an offer to acquire
the site up to the value set out in the confidential Appendix 2 to the
Solicitor to the Council’s Report No. LEG1611, under Section 227 of the Town
and Country Planning Act 1990; and -
agree
a period during which the offer should remain open for acceptance. |
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UNION STREET EAST REGENERATION PDF 415 KB To consider
the Solicitor to the Council’s Report No. LEG1612 (copy attached), which sets
out proposals relating to the regeneration of the Union Street East site in
Aldershot. Presented By: Environment and Service Delivery Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet considered the Solicitor to the
Council’s Report No. LEG1612, which sought approval to take forward the
regeneration of the Union Street East and former Marks and Spencer building
site, as identified in the Aldershot Town Centre Prospectus Supplementary
Planning Document. Members were informed that
the site comprised Nos. 36 – 62 Union Street and Nos. 51 – 57 High Street. The
Report set out the background information and the development options. It went
on to highlight a number of acquisition issues around the assembly of the land which would be required to secure a development
partner. It was proposed that the Council should
continue to intervene at this site to acquire the properties required to allow
the area to be regenerated. A number of funding options had
been explored, including bids to the Local Growth Fund, which was
overseen by the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Trust and these options were set
out in the Report. Members heard that, given the complexity of ownerships, the
Council would need to work up a scheme as to how the key site could be regenerated to encourage interest from residential
developers. The Cabinet confirmed its support for
intervening where required to facilitate the
regeneration of Rushmoor’s town centres and acquiring relevant sites as they
became available. The Cabinet RESOLVED that (i)
the redevelopment of the Union Street East and
former Marks and Spencer Key Site, as identified in Appendix 1 of the Solicitor
to the Council’s Report No. LEG1612, be approved; (ii)
the details of the project be taken to the Aldershot
Regeneration Group; (iii)
the capital cost for the acquisition of the four
Union Street properties stated in the Report, as set out in the confidential
Appendix 2 of the Report, be approved; (iv)
the full year revenue costs associated with the
property acquisitions, as set out in the confidential Appendix 2 of the Report,
be approved; (v)
the urgency decision to acquire Nos. 60 – 62 Union
Street, Aldershot be noted; (vi)
the Head of Financial Services be authorised to: -
accept
any grant funding towards the costs of the redevelopment and to enter into any
prudential borrowing arrangement, subject to appropriate safeguards, to
increase the viability of the scheme; -
submit
expressions of interest and to enter into any loan or grant agreements with the
Local Enterprise Partnership or the Homes and Communities Agency necessary in
respect of the redevelopment of the key site; (vii)
the
Solicitor to the Council be authorised to: -
negotiate
and acquire by agreement Nos. 60 - 62 Union Street, Nos. 54 – 56 Union Street /
Nos. 53 – 55 High Street, No. 52 Union Street, No. 50 Union Street and No. 36
Union Street within the key site area, at the price set out in the confidential
Appendix 2 of the Report and subject to confirmation from the Council’s valuer or the Council’s external Compulsory Purchase Order
adviser that the price represents the appropriate open market value; - enter into ... view the full minutes text for item 46. |
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EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC To consider resolving: That, subject to the public interest test, the public be excluded from this meeting during the discussion of the undermentioned items to avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraphs of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against such items: Item Nos. Schedule 12A Category Para. No. 13 and 14 3 Information relating to financial or business affairs Minutes: RESOLVED: That, taking into account the public interest test, the public be
excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the under mentioned item to
avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraph of Schedule 12A
to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against the item: Minute Schedule 12A Category Nos. Para. No. 48 and 49 3 Information
relating to financial or business affairs |
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THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE CONSIDERED |
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APPLICATIONS FOR SECTION 49 REMISSION OF NON-DOMESTIC RATES To consider the Head of Financial Services’ Exempt Report No. FIN1618 (copy attached), which gives details of two applications for the remission of non-domestic rates due to hardship. Presented By: Concessions and Community Support Minutes: The Cabinet considered the
Head of Financial Services’ Exempt Report No. FIN1618, which set out two
applications for the remission of non-domestic rates on the grounds of
hardship. Members assessed the
applications from Ms. Ranjita Malia trading as Shreyaz Fashion, No. 18 Union Street, Aldershot and
Sovereign Snooker Limited, Snooker Hall Sovereign House, No. 1A Camp Road,
Farnborough, taking into account the evidence of financial hardship supplied
and whether it was in the interests of local taxpayers to subsidise the
businesses. The Cabinet took into account the nature and circumstances of the
businesses and, where appropriate, the availability of alternative facilities
in the area. The Cabinet Member for
Concessions and Community Support had visited each of the premises and
recommended that both applications should be approved. The Cabinet RESOLVED that (i)
50% hardship relief be granted to Ms. Ranjita Malia trading as Shreyaz
Fashion for 2016/17; and (ii)
25%
hardship relief be granted to Sovereign Snooker
Limited for 2016/17. |
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FIRST WESSEX COVENANT ISSUES AND DISPOSALS To consider
the Solicitor to the Council’s Exempt Report No. LEG1613 (copy attached), which
sets out proposals to deal with covenant and disposal issues at the North Town
Phase Nos. 1 – 4 site and former highways land at Lyndhurst Avenue, Aldershot. Presented By: Corporate Services Minutes: The Cabinet considered
the Solicitor to the Council’s Exempt Report No. LEG1613,
which sought approval for three separate issues relating to First Wessex
Housing Association. Members heard how First
Wessex had requested whether amenity land and former highway land at Phases 1 –
4 of its development in North Town, Aldershot could be
released to them for nil consideration. The Association had also
requested whether former highways land at their development at Lyndhurst
Avenue, Aldershot could be released, also for nil
consideration. In this case, in exchange for transferring the land for nil
consideration, the Council would receive nomination rights to the new
properties in perpetuity. The details and circumstances of each application
were set out in the Report. The Cabinet RESOLVED that (i)
the
request for a waiver of the consideration for the proposed release of the
covenant relating to the amenity land at Phases 1 – 4 of First Wessex’s North
Town development be refused; (ii)
the
request to transfer, for nil consideration, the former highway land at Phases 1
– 4 of First Wessex’s North Town development be refused; and (iii)
the request to transfer,
for nil consideration, the former highway land at Lyndhurst Avenue, Aldershot
be approved. |